Accent Reduction

1. Reduced Forms
Part 1
Many English learners pronounce each word clearly, to get the pronunciation perfect but native English speakers dont do this.
Natural spoken English contains reductions- sounds that change and disappear when spoken at normal speed. This sometimes makes
spoken English hard for students to understand.
To sound more like a native speaker of English, it is necessary to learn the reduced forms used in daily speech. It is also important if y
ou want to understand what native speakers are saying. As you may have gathered, we do not pronounce every word clearly. Rememb
er, these reduced forms are not written in standard English, but you may see some of them in songs, advertisements and personal writi
ng, when wishing to reflect natural speech.
The most popular vowel sound in the English language is the schwa1, and the phonetic symbol for this is an upside down letter. On thi
s page the schwa sound will simply be highlighted. It is an unstressed syllable, and it sounds something like uh (like the sound you
make if you've been punched in the stomach!)
Another item that can be a source of confusion and frustration for beginning learners of English are reductions. Reductions occur whe
n sounds are reduced or completely eliminated in words when spoken. Reductions are very common in speech and some of the more
common reductions are described below.
(1) of
There are three changes that can occur with the word 'of
A.The 'o' in of is often pronounced using the schwa sound - uh. (see section on vowels)
Eg: some of becomes some uh
'He likes some of the books' becomes He likes some uh the books

B.If a vowel follows 'of ' it is often pronounced with a schwa + v (uhv)
most of becomes most uhv
'Most of all, you can't drink' becomes Most uhv all, you can't drink.

C.If the sound of the letter before 'of ' is a 't' there is a flap in addition to the reduction
Eg: out of becomes oud dah
'He's out of money' becomes He's oud dah money.

(2) and: And is often reduced to 'n'.

And has three ways to pronounce: /nd/, /n/ and /n/
Eg: movies and books becomes movies n books
'I like movies and books' becomes I like movies n books.

(3) or Or is often reduced to 'r'.

or has three ways to pronounce: /: (r)/, / (r)/ and /r/.
A pencil or a pen becomes a pencil ra pen.
Either a pencil or a pen will do becomes Either a pencil ra pen will do
(4) for For is often reduced and changed to fer
for has two ways to pronounce: /f:(r)/ and /f(r)/
What's for lunch becomes what's fer lunch.
(5) h
In function words that begin with the letter 'h', the 'h' sound is often dropped.
Function words are the least important words in a sentence. (see section on Rhythm)
why have becomes why have (... why ave...)
Why have you come here?
is he becomes is he ( ...is e...)
What is he doing in the kitchen?
love him becomes love him. (...love im...)
She did not love him.

(6) going to
Going to becomes gonna.
'I'm going to eat dinner' becomes I'm gonna eat dinner.

(7) want to
Want to becomes wanna
I want to read a book becomes I wanna read a book.

(8) have to
Have to becomes hafta.
'Most people have to work' becomes Most people hafta work.
(9) has to
Has to becomes hasta.
John has to fix his car becomes John hasta fix his car

* Doing some English pronunciation practice with reductions will help you speak more naturally AND unde
rstand spoken English more easily. Listen and repeat!
1. TO
Most native English speakers dont pronounce to like the number 2. Instead, we say it like this:

going to > gonna

1.Im gonna graduate from college in two more years.

0:00
2.Shes not gonna like that movie. Its really violent.
00:00
3.Were gonna have a surprise party for John on April 8th.
00:00

want to wanna

4. I wanna go out tonight.

00:00
5. Hurry up! We dont wanna miss our flight!
00:00
6. He doesnt wanna travel.
00:00

wants to > wantsa

7. He wantsa stay home.

00:00
8. She wantsa start piano lessons.
00:00
2. A
A is such a simple word, what could be difficult about pronouncing a?
In spoken English, native speakers often attach the word a to the end of the previous word:
9.reada I read a good book.
00:00
10. hasa She has a car.
00:00
11. mada We made a mess.
00:00
12. hava They have a dog.
00:00
13. boughta - I bought a new computer.
00:00
14. wrota - I wrote a letter.
00:00
Practicing attaching the word a to the previous word will help your spoken English flow better and sound more natur
al.
3. YOU
In informal spoken English, many native speakers pronounce you as ya:
15. Are ya hungry?
00:00
16. Do ya like Japanese food?
00:00
17. Have ya ever been to Paris?
00:00
18. What were ya thinking about?
00:00
4. AND
The word and often gets shortened to nin spoken English:
19. I ate rice n beans.
00:00
20.She likes baseball n soccer.
00:00
21.I went to the bank n the supermarket.
00:00
22.He wants to get a dog n a cat.
00:00
Heres more speaking practice with n:
23.apples n bananas
00:00
24.blue n yellow
00:00
25.chemistry n biology
00:00
26.friends n family
00:00
27.singing n dancing
00:00
Part 2

In spoken English, words that are not stressed are often shortened, or reduced. Example, we write: could you tell me where
Campbell Hall is? but we say, Cudja tell me where Campbell Hall is.
Listen to the difference:
Unreduced pronunciation Reduced Prounciation
Could you cudja

Reduced forms are a natural part of spoken English. They are not slang. However, reduced forms are not acceptable spelling
s in written English.
Comparing Unreduced pronunciation and Reduced Pronunciation:
The following sentences are from the conversation. Listen for the difference between unreduced and reduced pronunciation.
Repeat both forms after the speaker.

Unreduced pronunciation Reduced Prounciation IPA

1. Could you tell me where Kimbell hall i Cudja tell me where Kimbell Hall is? /'k/
s?
2.Oh, you mean Campbell hall? Oh, ymean Campbell Hall? /j'mi:n/
3.How about you? How boutchu? /'bju:
/
4.Whats your name? whatcher name? /'w/
5.My family used to come here every sum My family yoosta come here every su /'jst/
mer mmer.
6.I want to go to college here. I wanna go ta college here. /wn '
g d/
7.What do you want to major in? whaddaya wanna major in? /
wdj'
wn/
8.You have to speak good English these d You haft speak good English these day /h:ft/
ays to get ahead in business. s ta get ahead in business.

Listening for Reductions: listen to the following conversation between an international student and a school office assist
ant. Youll hear the reduced pronunciation of some words. Write the unreduced forms of the missing words in the blanks.
A: could you help me, please? I.. . be a student at this school.
B: Oh yeah, I remember you. How are you?
A: Fine, thanks.
B: Can I help you with something?
A: Yes, I .. ..get an application for the TOEFL test.
B: .. ..the international TOEFL iBT? Lets see. They .. ..be h
ere on this shelf. It looks like theyre all gone. Im sorry, youll .. ..wait until they come in n
ext week.
A: .. ..sending me one when they come in?
B: No problem. .. ..name and address?
The following sentences are from the conversation. Listen for the difference between unreduced and reduced pronunciation.
Repeat both forms after the speaker.

Unreduced Pronunciation Reduced Pronunciation IPA

1.Where are you living now? Wherere ya livin' now /we j 'livi
n/
2.What do you do? Whaddaya do? /wdj/
3.You can walk to school from here. Ya kin walk ta school from here /j kin....d/
4. When can I come by and see it? When kin I come byn see it? /
kinai.....bain/
5.Can you make it this evening around Kina make it this evening around /'kin/
five? five?
6.Do you know where that is? Dya know where that is? /dj/
7. Ive got to go Ive gotta go. /'gd/
Listen to the following conversations. Youll hear the reduced pronunciation of some words. Write the unreduced forms of th
e missing words in the blanks.
One :
Mari: Hey Jeff, .. .. ..going?
Jeff: I .. ..get a present for Nancy. Its her birthday, ..know.
Mari: Yeah, I know. .. .. ..think I should get her?
Jeff: Well, She likes music. .. .. a CD?

Two:
Nancy: .. .. ..like my new haircut, Mari?
Mari: Its great! Whos your hairstylist?
Nancy : His names Jos.
Mari: .. ..give me his phone number?
Nancy: Sure, but hes always very busy. .. ..try calling him, but he might not be able
..see .. until next month.

Three:
Andrew: .. .. .. .. .. do tonight, Nancy?
Nancy: Nothing special. Ive .. .. stay home .. correct my studentscompositi
ons.

The following sentences are from the conversation. Listen for the difference between unreduced and reduced pronunciation.
Repeat both forms after the speaker.

Unreduced Pronunciation Reduced Pronunciation IPA

1. I need to ask you something. a. I need ta ask you something. /ni:d
:sk/
2. This is the third time youve asked b. This is the third time youve ast /
me for help. me for help. ju:vst/

3. My old guitar broke, and I had to b c. My old guitar broke, n I hadta b/ni 'h
uy a new one. uy a new one. d/
4. What do you think I ought to do? d. Whaddaya think I oughta do? /':t/
5. If I could do it, why cant you? e. If I could do it, why cantchu? /
knu:/
6. Why dont you think about this ver f. Why dontchu think about this ver /
y carefully and call me back in a few y carefullyn call me back in a few dnu:/
days? days? /'keflin
 /
Listen to the following conversation between a bank teller and a customer. Youll hear reduced forms from Chapters 1,2 and3. Write t
he unreduced forms of the missing words in the blanks.
Customer: Hi, my name is Chang Lee.
Teller: How I help you?
Customer: I check my balance.
Teller: OK. I have your account number, please?
Customer: 381335.
Teller: Your balance is $201.

Customer: OK. I my father wire me some money. Id like know if its

arrived.
Teller: Im sorry. Your account doesnt show any deposits.
Customer: Oh, no. I need pay my rent tomorrow.
think I do?
Teller: Well, were having some computer problems today. So, why call us later to check again? Or
come back. Were open till 5:00.
Customer: OK, thanks.
Teller: Youre welcome.

The following sentences are from the conversation. Listen for the difference between unreduced and reduced pronunciation.
Repeat both forms after the speaker.
Unreduced Pronunciation Reduced Pronunciation IPA
1. whats going on? a. Whats goin on? /'ginn/

2. Im probably going to drop out of b. Im probably gonna drop outa sc /'gn/ /'t
school for a while. hool for a while. /

3. What did you do there? c. What didja do there? /'di/

4. What kind of job do you want to g d. What kinda job dya wanna get? /'kind/ /d
et? j/ /'wn/
5. Oh, I dont know. e. Oh, I dunno. /'dn/

6. If youre so poor, why dont you g f. If youre so poor, why doncha go /'d/ /t/
o back to the Burger Ranch? back ta the Burger Ranch?

Listen to the following conversation. It contains reduced forms. Write the unreduced forms of the missing words in the blank
s.
Manger: Im ask you some questions, OK? What jobs have you had
?
Applicant: Mostly factory jobs. The last five years I worked in a plastics factory.
Manager: do there?
Applicant: I cut sheets of plastic.
Manager: do here?
Applicant: I . Ill do anything. Im good with my hands and Im a hard worker.
Manager: Why fill out an application in the office. It looks like were
have an opening next week. Ill call you.
Applicant: Thanks.
Part 3
1. Comparing long and reduced forms Listen to the following sentences from the conversation. They contain reduced for
ms. Repeat the sentences after the speaker. Note that the reduced forms (*) are not correct written forms of words.

Long form IPA Reduced form

How are you doing? /h a: ju:/ /'hj/ How're* you doing?
It's nice to meet you. /mi:t ju:/ /mi:/ It's nice to meetchya*.
/wi: : 'gi /wi gn
We are going to go shopping. tu:/
/
We're gonna* go shopping.
/
/du: ju: wnt
Do you want to come? tu:/
dj'wn Do ya* wanna* come?
/
You dont have to look for pa You don't hafta* look for pa
/ hv tu:/ /h:ft/
rking. rking.
2. Listening for reductions listen and circle the letter of the sentence that you hear. Note the reduced forms (*) are not corr
ect written forms of words.
Long form Reduced form
A.It's nice to meet you.
A.Aren't you coming?
A.I'm spending too much money
A.Do you want to go shopping?
A.Do you have to study today?
B. It's nice to meetchya*
B. Arencha* comin'*?
B. I'm spendin'* too much money.
B. Do you wanna* go shopping?
B. Do you hafta* study today?

3.Comparing long and reduced forms Listen to the following sentences from the conversation. Repeat the sentences after
the speaker. Note that the reduced forms (*) are not correct written forms of words.
Long form IPA Reduced form
Are you OK? /ju:/ /j/ Are ya* Ok?
What is the matter? /wt iz / /'ws/ Whats'a* matter?
Why are you so sad? /'wi :/ /'wi/ Why're* you so sad?
I miss her /mis h(r)/ /'mis/ I miss 'er*
I really want to see my family /'wn I really wanna* see my family
/wnt tu:/
. / .

4.Listening for Reductions. Listen and circle the letter of the sentence th at you hear. Note that the reduced forms (*) are n
ot correct written forms of words.
Long form Reduced form
A. Are you OK? B. Are ya* OK?
A. I don't miss them very much. B. I don't miss 'em* very much.
A. I want to go to the movies with you. B. I wanna* go to the movies with you
A. What are you doing? B. What're* you doing?
A. Why are you sad? B. Why're* you sad?

5.Comparing long and reduced forms Listen to the following sentences from the conversation. Repeat them after the spea
ker. Note that the reduced forms (*) are not correct written forms of words.

Long form IPA Reduced form

Can I help you? /kn i/ /kni/ C'n* I help you?
Would you like to make an appo Wudja* like to make an appoi
/wd ju:/ /w/
intment? ntment?
Could you come in tomorrow af Cudja* come in tomorrow aft
/kd ju:/ /k/
ternoon at one? ernoon at one?
No - just your ID and insurance /st j: i d /s i No - justcher* ID 'n * insuran

card. i: nd/ di:n/ ce card.

6.Listening for Reductions. Listen and then circle the letter of the sentence that you hear. Note that the reduced forms (*) a
re not correct written forms of words.

Long form Reduced form

A. Can I help you?
A. Would you like to make an appointment?
A. Could you come in tomorrow afternoon at on
e?
B. C'n* I help you?
B. Wudja* like to make an appointment?
B. Cudja* come in tomorrow afternoon at on
e?
A. No - just your ID and insurance card. B. No - justcher* ID 'n* insurance card

7.Comparing long and reduced forms Listen to these sentences. Note that the reduced forms (*) are not correct written fo
rms of words.

Long form IPA Reduced form

Where did you go last night? Where ja* go last night?
Who did you go with? Who ja* go with?
What did you see at the movies
What ja* see at the movies?
? /did ju:/ //
How did you get there? How ja* get there?
When did you get home? When ja* get home?
Why did you pick that movie? Why ja* pick that movie?

8.Listening for Reductions. Listen and then circle the letter of the sentence that you hear. Note that the reduced forms (*) a
re not correct written forms of words.
Long form Reduced form
A. What did you do last weekend? B. What ja* do last weekend?
A. Where did you go on Sunday? B. Where ja* go on Sunday?
A. When did you get up this morning? B. When ja* get up this morning?
A. How did you get to school? B. How ja* get to school?
A. Who did you come to school with? B. Who ja* come to school with?
A. Why did you take the bus? B. Why ja* take the bus?

9. Comparing long and Reduced forms Listen to these sentences.Repeat them after the speaker. Note that the reduced for
ms (*) are not correct written forms of words.
Long form IPA Reduced form
/wt : ju: 'gi /w j gn What're* ya gonna* have?
What are you going to have? tu:/
hv/ v/
/
I think I'm going to have so /'gi tu:...'t I think I'm gonna* have so
gn...'tfu:
me tofu and rice. fu: nd/
n/ me tofu 'n* rice.
We would like a couple of sa
/'kpl v/ /'kpl/ We'd like a coupla* salads.
lads.
Isn't there a lot of fat in chee Isn't there a lotta* fat in che
/lt v ft in/ /'ldfdin/
seburgers? eseburgers?
They don't want to eat lots o /wnt tu:... lts They don't wanna* eat lotsa
/'wn...'ls/
f fatty food. v/ * fatty food.
10.Listening for Reductions. Listen and circle the letter of the sentence that you hear. Note that the reduced forms (*) are
not correct written forms of words.
A. What are you going to have? B. What're* ya gonna* have?
A.I think I'm going to have some tofu and rice B. I think I'm gonna* have some tofu 'n* rice.
.
A. We would like a couple of salads. B. We'd like a coupla* salads.
A. Isn't there a lot of fat in cheeseburgers? B. Isn't there a lotta* fat in cheeseburgers?
A. They don't want to eat lots of fatty food. B. They don't wanna* eat lotsa* fatty food
.
The more common reductions are described below.
Here are some examples of reduced forms:
Standard English Reduced Form Example

because kuz /kz/ /k:z/ I don't wanna go to the party, kuz it sounds boring.

bet you betcha /'be / I betcha can't eat ten hot dogs!

could have + consonant kuda /'k / You kuda gone with me, if you'd told me in plenty of time.

could have + vowel kudav /'k dv/ I was so hungry, I kudav eaten a horse.

didja/ didya/ dya

did you /'di / /'di j/ / Didja like the film?
/
don't you doncha /'dn / Doncha know?
get you getcha /'ge / I'll getcha a drink.
give me gimme /'gi mi/ Gimme all your money!
going to + verb gonna /'g n/ I'm gonna do my homework now.

got you gotcha /'g / I gotcha that candy bar you asked for.

hasta /'hst/ /'hs

has to He hasta know how much he means to me.
/

have to hafta /'hf t/ I hafta clean the house before I go out.

howarya /'ha w j
how are you + verb Howarya doin' ?
/

I don't know I dunno /'ai dn/ I dunno what to think about that.

kind of + consonant kinda /'kaind/ I'm kinda worried about that test.

kind of + vowel kindav /'kaindv/ This book is kindav interesting.

kinds of + consonant kindsa /'kain s/ What kindsa clothes does that shop sell?

kinds of + vowel kindsav /'kain sv/ Look at all those different kindsav oranges for sale!

let me lemme /'lem/ Lemme in!

lot of + consonant lotta /'l d/ I've got a lotta respect for that guy.

lot of + vowel lottav /'l d v/ There were a lottav English people at the party.

lots of + consonant lottsa / 'l s/ There were lottsa different nationalities in that chat room.

lots of + vowel lottsav /'l s v/ There were lottsav interesting things to see and do.
might have + consonant mighta /'mai t/ I mighta gone with him if he'd invited me.

might have + vowel mightav /'mai t v/ She mightav agreed to come if you'd been nicer to her.

must have + consonant musta /'ms t/ I musta walked past her without even seeing her.

must have + vowel mustav /'ms t v/ She mustav intended to dump him before his birthday.

oughta /': t/ /': d You oughta know more about that than me. /'m: r ba 't
ought to
/ tn mi:/
should have + consonan
shoulda /' d/ I shoulda studied harder for the exam.
t

should have + vowel shouldav /' d v/ He really shouldav opened up about his feelings.

should not have + cons shouldn'ta/shouldn'a

Where is she? She shouldn'a taken that long!
onant /' dn/
shouldn'tav/shouldn'
should not have + vowe
av She shouldn'tav ignored you like that.
l
/' dn v/
want to wanna /'w n/ I wanna go home.
what are you + gerund whatcha /'w / Whatcha doin'?
what do you + verb whaddaya /'w d j/ Whaddaya wanna do today?
would have + consonan
woulda /'w d/ I woulda done the dishes if you'd asked me.
t

would have + vowel wouldav /'w d v/ I wouldav asked you to do it, if I'd thought you would.
 wassamatta/ws 'm
what is the matter Wassammatta witcha? (with you)
d/

with you witcha /'wi / Wassammatta witcha?